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BUTCH COMEGYS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Wallenpaupack's Skylar Wirth, left, and Abington Heights' Adrianna Green battle for control of the ball during the first half of the District 2 Class AAA championship Thursday night at Scranton Memorial Stadium.

It wasn't a high-percentage shot, but Gretchen Hiller took it anyway.

From 35 yards out on the rain-soaked turf at Memorial Stadium, Hiller launched a shot that short-hopped in front of Abington Heights goalie Blair Cacciamani. The ball skidded off the keeper's right hand, hopped over her shoulder and found the back of the net in the 29th minute.

It was the only score of the game as Wallenpaupack claimed its first District 2 girls soccer title, winning Thursday's Class AAA title game, 1-0.

"I just knew that I had to strike the ball really hard and it slipped through the keeper's hands," said Hiller, whose goal with 11:42 left in the first half sends the Lady Buckhorns into the state tournament Tuesday against the runner-up from District 3, either Cumberland Valley or Wilson.

"We had nine shots the first half and it was lucky it went in," Wallenpaupack coach Alicia Sodano said. "I kind of wish we got one that was a nicer goal in a way. Not to take anything away from Gretchen. It was awesome. I just wish we had finished a few more times."

The Lady Buckhorns had their chances, but Cacciamani stoned them on two great chances. Nicki Mann ripped a left-footed shot and Cacciamani made a leaping tip over the crossbar with 7½ minutes left in the first half, and then took the ball off the foot of Hope Decker to stifle another scoring chance with 10 minutes left in the game.

But Abington Heights struggled to make much happen offensively, largely in part because of Tori Ciszak, who was very strong on the back line.

"We worked really hard to work together as a team today, and we don't always do that," Ciszak said. "Our midfielders dropped back a lot, which helped. After our first goal, we all dropped back more defensively."

Perrine Wasser gave Abington Heights their first scoring chance, whistling a 15-yard shot from in front of the net that Wallenpaupack goalie Irene Dispenza smothered.

"That was a tough one but I knew I had to watch her feet to see where she was going and I just wanted to get my body in front of it," Dispenza said. "The turf was really wet and I knew it would slide by if I didn't get my body in front of it."

Abbey Burke came close to the equalizer three minutes into the second half, but Dispenza made a diving tip of a shot ticketed for the lower left corner.

"I wanted to get to that ball so bad and I just hit it out," Dispenza said.

Abington Heights struggled on the attack without Michaelina Holmes, who broke her collarbone in Tuesday's semifinal, and with the loss of Emily Bonsick to concussion-like symptoms.

"We made a few changes," Abington Heights coach E.T. Hunter said. "It might have been too late in the game. They definitely played their strengths, which was their speed, and little mistakes we make led to the one goal.

"They stuck to their game plan and we had to try a few things because we were down and that didn't work."

With Ciszak leading the way, the Lady Comets didn't have another great scoring threat.

"Tori played a great game," Sodano said. "She was stepping up and played with all this heart. Her stepping up allowed everyone else to kind of relax defensively. That's how we were able to make most of our attacks, through Tori's play.

"We got a little shaky toward the end, but we wanted this for so long. The heart and the will and the want of these girls is unbelievable."

Contact the writer: mmyers@timesshamrock.com

Abington Heights (12-2-2) 0 0 - 0

Wallenpaupack (14-2) 1 0 - 1

WAL - Gretchen Hiller, 28:18

Shots-corners: AH 6-7, WAL 14-4

Saves: Blair Cacciamani (AH) 10, Irene Dispenza (WAL) 7

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